Behind the Book with Gene Swank: Author of “No Money Down”

The Tidbit recently had the privilege to interview the brain behind No Money Down: Defying The Myth That It Takes Money To Make Money. We talk with Gene Swank about the book and other fun tidbits!

The Tidbit: What inspired the idea for your book?

Gene Swank: I run a startup incubator called Propellant Labs and therefore have mentored countless founders. The most common misconception that most founders have, is that money will cure all their professional problems. The truth is, far too many times, just putting their head down and focusing on building the business is much more important than trying to raise capital. I wanted to help startup founders by providing them with the tips and tricks that I’ve used in the past to bootstrap a company from concept to a multi-million dollar business. I wanted to inspire others to not give up when they hit a few roadblocks and to keep working towards their goals.

TT: What did you learn about yourself while writing the book?

GS: I talked about writing this book for about a decade and when I actually sat down and put pen to paper, the meat of it was completed in a matter of weeks. I learned that instead of procrastinating and trying to make everything perfect, sometimes you have to just get started. I started receiving emails from people I don’t even know that were telling me how much the book inspired them and how they are so grateful that I shared my story. It really built up my confidence, to know that so many people benefited from reading it.

TT: Why was now the time to write and publish No Money Down?

GS: I mentioned this already, but I talked about writing the book for way too long. My wife and I are expecting our third child and I really made it a goal to release the book before my new child was born. I also feel like the lessons that I’ve learned running the incubator made me realize how much I wanted to share my experiences with the world.

TT: Anything else you’d like to share with us?

GS: Starting a business can sometimes be scary and a little lonely. I recommend finding a community of like minded individuals that can help you both professionally and emotionally by supporting you. At Propellant Labs, we are very proud of our startups and the amazing community that we have built. Our amazing members were like little soldiers that spread the word of my book release like wildfire. There is no way we could have seen this level of success without them, I want to thank them for all their help.